We have caught many corrupt officials, system is overwhelmed – Nameere

What the report says

State Minister for Local Government Justine Nameere says Uganda’s stepped-up anti-corruption drive has created heavy pressure on the criminal justice system, especially at the stages of preparing charge sheets, compiling case files and prosecuting suspects. She made the remarks on Thursday during an appearance on Sanyuka TV, according to Nile Post, saying the authorities have been identifying and arresting many officials suspected of corruption, which has slowed the process of taking cases to court.

Nameere said the government raised the problem with President Museveni, who then connected the anti-corruption team with the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. She said this led to agreement on creating special units made up of prosecutors and criminal investigators to help process cases faster once suspects are identified. The goal, she said, is to reduce delays and move cases through the justice system more efficiently.

The minister’s comments come amid a wider campaign led by her and Minister of State for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara, who have been carrying out surprise inspections of local governments across the country. Nile Post reported that the drive has focused on alleged theft of public funds, recruitment scams and ghost workers, and has already resulted in more than 300 people being interdicted. Several local government officials, engineers and education officers have also faced arrest or disciplinary action.

The issue matters because it highlights both the scale of suspected corruption and the strain on institutions responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases. According to the report, President Museveni has publicly supported the crackdown, while the new special units are intended to help the state keep up with the growing caseload.